Carpet-stretcher.



No- 891,645. PATENTED JUNE 23, 1908.'

' T. WALKER.

CARPET STRETGHER. APPLICATION FILED APB. 2.1908.

' WITNESSES INVENTOH magzasflZfier ATTORNEYS THOMAS WALKER, OF PLEASANT HILL, OREGON.

CARPET-STRETCHER. '1

noes-11,645.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed April 2, 1908. Serial No. 424,786.

Patented June 23, 1908.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, THOMAS WALKER, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Pleasant Hill, in the county of Lane and State of Oregon, have invented a new and Improved Car et-Stretcher, of which the following is a ful clear, and exact description.

This invention relates to certain improvements in carpet stretchers, and relates more particularly to the mechanism for moving the stretcher-head laterally while in engagement with the carpet. In the class of carpet stretchers to which my invention belongs, it is customary to provide a stretcher-head and a handle connected thereto and formed of a plurality of sections or bars so connected to gether as to facilitate the varying of the length of the handle. Two sections have been so connected together as to permit of a sliding or longitudinal movement of one section in respect to the other, and they have also been hinged together.

In my invention, I provide a single member serving the double purpose of a hinge and a slide, so as to permit of a sliding movement of the sections to, vary the length of the handle as desired, and also to permit of a bending or straightening movement, to bring the sections into approximately parallel positions in the stretching of the carpet and to hold them against return movement while the carpet is beingsecured in place.

Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, in which similar characters of. reference. indicate corresponding parts in both.

figures, and in which Figure 1 is a top plan view of a carpet stretcher constructed in accordance with my invention; and Fig. 2 is a side elevation thereof, the parts being also illustrated in dotted lines in the position occupied before the stretching action begins.

In my improved carpet stretcher any suitable head may be employed, as, for instance, a head 10 formed of sheet metal and including a body portion 11 and a toothed blade 12 extending downwardly therefrom at substantially right angles. To the stretcherhead is secured a handle formed of two sections or bars 13 and 14. The section 13 is rigidly secured to the body of the stretcherhead in any suitable manner, and the section 14 has swinging and sliding connections with the section 13. .The specific form of connecting mechanism illustrated, includes a pair of side links 15 pivotally secured to the mit of a slight swinging movement of the r links. The other rod 17 connects the two links together adjacent their outer ends and is spaced from the rod- 16 a distance slightly greater than the thickness of the bar 13. The bars 13 and 14 are of substantially the same thickness and the bar 13 normally extends between the links 15 and between the rods 16 and 17 By moving the links to a position at substantially right angles to the bar 13, the latter may be freely moved longitudinally therethrough, so as to vary its position in respect to the bar 14. By swinging the links upon their pivot, the rods 16 and 17 may be caused to grip the bar 13 and prevent longitudinal movement.

In the use of the device in stretching a carpet, the toothed blade is brought into engagement with the carpet and the outer or free end of the bar 14 is held against movement by placing it in engagement with the foot, the wall of the room, or any other object serving to hold the free end substantially stationary. The bar 13 is moved through the loop formed by the links and bars, so that the two rods 16 and 17 are at an angle to each other and the loop is inclined away from the stretcher-head. By then depressing the free end of the handle, the bars are brought to substantially parallel positions and the stretching action effected. The stretching action naturally tends to force the bar 13 rearwardly, but this rearward movement is prevented by the frictional engagement of the rods 16 and 17. The greater the inclination and rearward movement of the loop including these rods, the greater is the frictional engagement with the sides of the bar.

For holding the free end of the bar 13 against lateral movement in respect to the bar 14 while the two are adjacent each other and the grip is being secured, the bar 14 may, if desired, be provided with oppositely-disposed side plates 18 intermediate its ends and adapted. to receive the end of the bar 13 therebetween.

Having thus described my invention, I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent:

In a carpet stretcher, the combination of a gripping head, a handle section secured thereto, a second handle section having links pivotally secured to opposite sides adjacent one end of said last-mentioned section, rods connecting said links 'and forming therewith a loop to receive the first-mentioned handle section, and side plates spaced from said links and carried by the second-mentioned handle section and adapted to receive the first-mentioned handle section therebetween.

In testimony whereof I have signed my 15 name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

THOMAS WALKER.

Witnesses:

J. H. WEsT, GEO. O. KNOWLES. 

